Cabinet



Sept. 8, 1'942. J; B. suoMALA CABINET Filed April 50, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l E Sept 8, 1942 J. B. sUoMALA 2,295,368`

CABINET Filed April 30, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 nventor #Ia-zz @flew/zak Patented Sept. 8, 1942 'mais CABINET John B. Suomala, Haddonfild, N. J., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application April 30, 1941, Serial No. 391,159

(Cl. S12-22) 9 Claims.

This invention relates to cabinets, and more particularly to a cabinet for housing soundreproducing apparatus.

Phonographs and combination phonographs and radio receivers are generally housed in cabinets provided with hinged lids for the purpose of affording easy access to the phonograph compartment in order to facilitate changing records and adjusting the parts of the phonograph above the motor board. Generally, it is desirable to place an ornamental article on the top of the cabinet such as a vase, picture, or the like, and every time one wishes to use a phonograph housed in a cabinet of this type, it becomes necessary to remove the articles from the lid before it can be raised in order to reach the phonograph parts. This not only constitutes a nuisance, but often acts as a deterrent to the use of the phonograph.

The primary object of my present invention is to provide an improved cabinet wherein the aforementioned diiculty is eliminated.

More particularly, it is an object of my present invention to provide an improved cabinet for phonographs or the like wherein the lid has a xed relation to the walls of the cabinet, yet

wherein ready access is afforded to the phonograph housedvtherein.

Another object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph cabinet from which the phonograph may be removed with great facility for the manipulation or adjustment of the phonograph parts.

Still another object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph cabinet as aforesaid wherein the phonograph compartment is of minimum size A further object of my present invention is to provide an improved phonograph cabinet which may be made advantageously of low height while affording convenient access to the phonograph.

It is alsoA an object of my present invention to provide an improved phonograph cabinet as aforesaid which is simple in construction, occupies a minimum of space, and is highly efcient in use.

In accordance with this invention, I provide a cabinethaving front, back and side walls to which is secured a top in fixed relation to the walls. The front wall is provided with an opening and has a cover hinged thereto in a position such that the cover may be moved into closed relation with said opening, or it may be lowered into an open position with respect to said opening, the cover extending downwardly away from the front wall at a slight inclination in an outward direction when in the latter position. Secured to the side walls within the cabinet are a pair of supporting members which are inclined at substantially the same angle as the cover when the latter is in open position, the cover thus, in effect, then constituting an extension of the supporting members. A suitable platform which is adapted to carry sound-reproducing apparatus, such as a phonograph, is movably mounted on the supporting members and normally occupies a concealed position within the cabinet when the cover is closed, the platform being latched in this position by suitable latching mechanism. The cover carries a trip device which 'actuates the aforementioned latching mechanism as the cover is lowered to its open position to thereby release the platform so that the latter can move out, under the influence of gravity, to a position over the cover, thereby exposing the phonograph suciently to afford ready access thereto. Preferably, the supporting members and the cover are provided with cooperating rails or the like which guide the movement of the phonograph-supporting platform. Also, if desired, one or more resilient members, such as coil springs, rubber blocks, or the like, may be provided either on the back wall of the cabinet or on the rear edge of the platform to be compressed between the rear edge of the platform and the back wall of the cabinet when the platform is in fully inserted position within the cabinet. The energy stored in the resilient members may then be availed of to impart a starting impulse to the platform when the latch mechanism has been unlatched to release the platform, thereby insuring movement of the platform out of the cabinet. p

The novel features that I consider characteristic of my invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood from the following description of one embodiment thereof, when read in connection with the act phonograph moved out from the cabinet and overYV the lowered cover, f Figure 2 isa sectional view taken on the line II-II of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line III- III of Figure 2, but showing, in

full lines, the cover closed and the phonographsupporting platform in its rest position, and in dot-and-dash lines, the cover almost in its lowered position and the latch mechanism in position just about to release the platform for movement out of the cabinet,

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, taken on the same section line, but corresponding to Figure 2, wherein the record-supporting platform is shown reinserted into the cabinet prior to closing the cover,

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken on the line V--V of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 is a plan view of the trip device carried by the cover.

Referring more particularly to thedrawings, wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout, there is shown a cabinet comprising a front wall I, a back wall 5, side Walls I and 9, and a top II secured to the walls5, I and- 9 in xed relation thereto, so that the vtop vorld II cannot be moved relative to the wallsfthefront wall VI terminating -short of the top-II so-- as Ato providey an opening-3 which affords communication vbetween the exterior and the interior ofthe cabinet. Pivotally mounted on thewall-I, as by 'a hinge I3, isapanel I5 constituting-a cover for-theopening 3, the cover I5 being movable from a closed position over the opening3, asshown in'solid lines in Figure 3,.to an open position relativeto the opening 3 wherein the cover I5-is inclined downwardly about 2 or 3 degrees with respect to vthe cabin-et wall `I in a forward directiomas clearly shown in Figures 1 and-,4, thecover I5 being -held in the-latter positionby a-pairfof fallA supports yI6 `or the-like.

Secured to the side walls 'I and: Sof the cabinet are-a pairof-su-pporting,blocks I'I and I9,` each inclined downwardly from the back wall 5 -to the front .wall Iat substantially the same angle asthe cover I5 -when the latter is in its'fully opened position, as .shown in Figure` 1. Thus, the cover I5 constitutes, in effect, an extension ofthe sup-V portingmembers II and-I9 when the 'cover is mits-open position.l The supportingmembers I'I and `I Bare provided with upwardly extending side rails` I 'Iav and 49a., respectively, with which `are aligned a pair of -oppositely disposed rails 2I-and 23-on the 4cover I5,the rails 2| and 23 thus con-Y stituting` extensions of the rails I'Ia. and-|961. and being providedfor a purpose shortly to be set forth.

Rotatablyfmounted on thefsupporting members II-and-IS-and guided in their movement there-- construction, and that'illustrated herein is-of theV type adapted toautomatically play a numberY of records in succession and is preferably of the type disclosed yand claimed in theV copending application of Benjamin R. Carson and Knut J. Magnusson, Serial No. 286,988, led July 28, 1939, andassigned to Radio Corporation of America. Inasmuch as the` details of this phonograph form nopart 4ofthe present invention, a* further'descript-ion thereof is not believed to be necessary.

In view of the fact that theplatform 3Iand its `phonograph33 are carried on the inclined supporting blocks lI, it will be obvious 'that the 'platform 3I will constantly tend to roll out of the cabinet-to the dot-and-dash line position of Figure 1. It is therefore necessary to provide means for retaining the platform 3I and the parts carried thereby within the cabinet. For this purpose, a bar 35 may be secured to the bottoms of the supporting members I'I and I9, as clearly shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. The bar 35 carries a mounting block 37 on which is pivotally mounted a latching lever 39 formed with a latching toe 39a and a shoulder 39h between which is formed a depression 39e. The platform 3I may be provided with a front wall 3Ia to the lower edge of which is secured a latch plate 4I having an upstanding flange 4Ia. adapted to be engaged by the latching toe 39a to releasably hold the platform V3I within the cabinet, the lower edge ofthe lever 39 resting on the upper end of a screw 42 threadedly received in the bar 35 and the block 31 and'adjustable thereon to limit the overlapof, or extent of engagement between, the toe 39aand the flange 4Ia..

Secured to the cover I5 is a trip plate 43 `which pivotally-carries a triplever 45, the trip lever being constantly urged in a'clockwise direction relative to the trip plate 43 `by a coil spring 41, as viewed in Figures 3 and-4, In the closed position of the cover I5,' the tripfplate 43 and its trip lever 45. occupy thefsolid line position shown in Figure 3. As the cover I5 is lowered toward its fully opened position, the trip lever 45 engages the shoulder 39h of the latch lever 39 shortly before the cover'I5 and the latch plate 43 Vare in approximately the dot-and-dash line position shown inthe same figure. Counterclockwise rotation of the trip lever'45 relative to the trip plate 43 is limited by engagement of the shoulders 45a on the trip lever- 45 with the trip plate 43. Consequently, as .the-upper edge of the Ytrip lever 45 engages -thezshoulder 39h of the latch lever 39, the latter will be moved clockwise on its pivot, as viewed in Figures 3 vand 4, until its toe 39o/is freed from the flange la on the latch plate 4I. 'Ihe platform 3| is then rendered free to move alongthe supporting members I'I under the iniluencefof gravity to a position'over thecover I5, the-rails I 1a.; I9a, 2 I 'and 23 guiding the `movement of the vplatform 3I. The lever 39fmeanwhile falls back onto the upper end of the screw 42, the trip lever 45 being received inthe depression.39c.. A pair of downwardly extending posts orthe like 49 secured to the rear-wall of the platform 3I cooperate with `afpair of rubber bumpers or the like 5I carried by someixed part of thecabinet, such as the supporting blocks I1 and 'I 9,1forllimiting the outward movement of the platform 3| and the phonograph 33, the bumpers 5I serving also to absorb the shock of the moving platform as it comes to rest over` the cover I5.

VIt'vvill beobvious that, with the top II xed to-the Walls of the cabinet, and'therefore free to 601 receivefsuitable articles of ornamentationwhich need not be disturbed, access to the phonograph 33 may not be had through the'top. of the cabinet. Howeverywhen the cover I5is open and the phonograph 33 has moved to the dot-and-dash 651-line position of Figure 1, access may be readily had to the phonograph for the purpose of changing records and manipulating the yvarious parts thereof. After the records R have been loaded andthe pickup device P has been deposited on a j record to beplayed, the platform 3| and the parts'carriedthereby "may be pushed back into the cabinet to the'solid line `position of Figure 1, thisbeing-the rest position of theplatforml and itsephonograph 33.

When rthe platform is returned to itsrest position, the upstanding flange 4|a on the latch plate 4| engages the inclined edge 39d of the toe 39a to cam the latching lever 39 in a clockwise direction about its pivot until the flange 4|a has passed the toe 39a, after which the latching lever 39 drops back against the screw 42 to bring its toe 39a into latching engagement with the flange 4|a again. Thereafter, as the cover l5 is moved to its closed position, the trip lever 45 engages the shoulder 39h and is momentarily arrested. As the cover continues movement toward its closed position, the trip plate 43 moves with it in a clockwise direction, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and the spring 41 yields until the upper edge of the trip lever 45 has passed beyond the shoulder 38h, after which the trip lever 45 is reset by the spring 4l to the position shown in solid lines in Figure 3 so that the trip lever 45 will again be in readiness to properly engage the shoulder 39h when the cover I5 is next opened to thereby again release the platform 3| as above described.

Inasmuch as the inclination of the supporting members Il and I9 is only slight with respect to a horizontal plane, it is helpful to impart to the platform a starting impulse when the latching lever 39 has been moved out of latching relation with the latch plate 4|. For this purpose, there may be provided either on the back Wall of the platform 3| or on the back Wall 5 of the cabinet one or more compressible members such as coil springs or rubber blocks 53. As the platform 3| is returned to its rest position, the blocks, springs, or the like 53 are compressed between the back wall of the platform 3| and the back wall 5 of the cabinet to store sufficient energy therein to impart an initial or starting impulse to the platform when it is freed to move out of the cabinet.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have provided an improved cabinet for sound-reproducing apparatus which, while affording ready Iaccess to this apparatus, nevertheless retains the advantages of a cabinet with a fixed top. Moreover, it will be obvious that only a minimum of space is necessary for the sound-reproducing apparatus in a cabinet constructed according to this invention.

Although I have shown and described but one embodiment of my invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many other modications thereof, as well as changes in the one herein described, are possible. I therefore desire that my invention shall not be limited except insofar as is made necessary by the prior art and by the spirit of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A cabinet including a plurality of walls arranged to provide an opening which affords communication between the exterior and the interior of the cabinet, a cover pivotally mounted on one of said walls and adapted to close said opening, said cover being movable from closed relation with said opening to an open position inclined downwardly away from said last-named wall, supporting means in said cabinet inclined therein similarly to and substantially in extension of said cover when said cover is in said open position, a platform adapted to receive an instrunient movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted, when said cover is moved into said open position, to move out from said cabinet onto said cover under the influence of gravity, means normally latching said platform within said cabinet against movement out of said cabinet, and means cooperatively associated with said cover for actuating said latch means as said cover is moved toward said inclined position to free said platform for movement out of said cabinet onto said cover.

2. A cabinet including a plurality of walls arranged to provide an opening which affords communication between the exterior and the interior of the cabinet, a cover pivotally mounted on one of said walls and adapted to close said opening, said cover being movable from closed relation with said opening to an open position inclined downwardly away from said last-named Wall, supporting means in said cabinet inclined therein similarly to and substantially in extension of said cover when said cover is in said open position, a platform adapted to receive an instrument movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted, when said cover is moved into said open position, to move out from said cabinet onto said cover under the influence of gravity, means normally latching said platform within said cabinet against movement out of said cabinet, means cooperatively associated with said cover for actuating said latch means as said cover is moved toward said inclined position to free said platform for movement out of said cabinet onto said cover, and means cooperatively associated With said platform for imparting thereto a starting impulse after said latch means has been actuated to free said platform.

3. A cabinet including a plurality of walls arranged to provide an opening which alfords communication between the exterior and the interior of the cabinet, a cover pivotally mounted on one of said walls and adapted to close said opening, said cover being Amovable from closed relation with said opening to an open position inclined downwardly away from said last-named wall, supporting means in said cabinet inclined therein similarly to and substantially in extension of said cover when said cover is in said open position, a platform adapted to receive an instrument movably mounted on said supporting means and adapted, when said cover is moved into said open position, to move out from said cabinet onto said cover under the influence of gravity, means normally latching said platform within said cabinet against movement out of said cabinet, means cooperatively associated with said cover for actuating said latch means as said cover is moved toward said inclined position to free said platform for movement out of said cabinet onto said cover, and means cooperatively associated with one Wall of said cabinet and with said platform for imparting thereto a starting impulse after said latch means has been actuated to free said platform.

4. A cabinet including a plurality of walls arranged to provide an opening which affords communication between the exterior and the interior of the cabinet, a cover pivotally mounted on one of said walls and adapted to close said opening, said cover being movable from closed relation with said opening to an open position inclined downwardly away from said last-named wall, supporting means in said cabinet inclined therein similarly to and lying substantially in the same plane as said cover when said cover is in said open position, a first pair of rails carried by said supporting means, a second pair of rails carried by said cover, said second pair of rails being aligned with -and constituting an extension of said rst pair of rails when said cover is in said open position, a platform in said cabinet adapted to receive an instrument, said platform being movably mounted on said supporting means in fassociation' with said' rst pair Nof rails; means vnormally latching said platformlin' rest position within said cabinet, and means cooperatively associated with said cover for releasing said latch- -ingmeans from latching relation with said platfo'rmass'aid cover is'moved to its open position 4 whereby to free said platform to move out onto said cover and into association with said second 'pair of rails under the influence of gravity to t'h'ereby expose said instrument.

5. Theinvention set forth in claim 4 charac- *terized' in that the walls of said cabinet comprise front-back and side walls, characterized further -in that said opening is provided by said front wall, Vand characterized still further by the addition' of a top fixed to saidWalls.

6.` The invention set forth in claim 4 charac- Kterized by 'the addition l of a plurality of rollers on said'platform, having rolling engage- -ment Withsaid supporting means adjacent said frails.

= 7o The invention set forth' in claim 4 charac- Iterized in that said cabinet includes a back wall, -and characterized further by the addition of Yc'ompressible'means cooperatively associated with "said platform and said back wall and adapted to '-'be compressed to store energy therein upon insertion' of said platform into said cabinet to the rest position thereof whereby, upon subsequent re- -l'ease of said latching means, said compressible meansis adapted to impart a starting impulse to :saidplatform in response to the energy stored Vtherein.

8. The invention set forth in claim 4 charac- Vterized in that said latching means4 comp-rises -a 35 latch plate carried by said platform, and a latch lever pivota'lly carried by said cabinet, said latch 'Ieverincluding'al toev adapted to engage said *latch plate vto releasably hold said platformin said -rest. position and also including a shoulder, land lcharacterized further in that said releasing 'means comprises a trip plate secured to said cover *and a trip lever pivctally carried by said trip plate, said trip lever being arranged to engage 4said shoulder to move said latch lever out of latching relation with said latchl plate 'upon movement of said cover toward its open position.

'9l The invention set forth in claim 4 charac- Aterized inthat said latching means comprises a latch plate carried by said platform and having a 'ilange'thereom and a latch lever pivotally carried tbyisaid cabinet, said latch lever including a'toe adapted to engage said flange to releasably hold x's'aid'platform in said rest'position and also including a shoulder spaced from said toe, said latch lever being formed with a depression between-said toe and said shoulder, and characterized further in that said releasing means comprises a trip plate secured to said cover and a trip lever pivotally carried by said trip plate, said triplever being arranged to engage said shoulder to' move said llatch lever `out of latching relation With said latch plate upon movement of said cover toward its open position whereby to free said platform for movement out of said cabinet, Asaid' trip lever extending into said 'depression after releasel of'said platform, and characterized 'still further in that said ange and saidtoe' are so constructed and arranged that, upon 'subsequent insertion of-v said platform into said cabinet, said flange engages and slips past said toe whereupon said toeI againlatches said platform in 'its restposition.

' JOHN B. SUOMALA. 

